The Cross River State government said it has identified and isolated 10 individuals who had contact with a Chinese national, who reportedly reimported COVID-19 into Nigeria.

The state epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, briefed the press about the development on Wednesday.

She noted that the ten persons, currently quarantined, were identified through contact tracking efforts conducted by health officials.

Commenting on the status of the Chinese national, Mrs Ekpenyong said the foreign patient has been responding to medical treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hosopital (UCTH).

“We’ve restricted their movements to their homes, so that they do not spread the symptoms to other persons. As for the Chinese national, he is responding to treatment,” the epidemiologist stated.

To mitigate the spread of the virus, Mrs Ekpenyong urged members of the public to regularly wash their hands, use nose masks and obey other medical advisories.

Earlier on Tuesday, the state’s Commissioner of Health, Henry Ayuk, announced the discovery of a reported COVID-19 case.

The commissioner said the case involved a Chinese national, who flew into the country on March 17, prior to his falling ill.

Mr Ayuk said the patient’s samples during diagnosis at the UCTH confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.

“The protocols have been followed and confirmed that a 53-year-old Chinese who work in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state has COVID-19,” the commissioner said at a news conference.

“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm,” he said.